Hugh Jackman Promises Wolverine 2 Director ‘As Good’ as Aronofsky

When the news broke that a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine would instead act as a standalone film with potential to launch a series of successive installments – a la James Bond – it was a good thing. In fact, we don’t want any X-Men movie to feel the need to base itself on what happened in Wolverine’s first solo outing. Deadpool and X-Men: First Class are ignoring it too.

News got even better when it was announced that Darren Aronofsky, living in the success of Black Swan, would re-partner with Hugh Jackman (The Fountain) to bring us the sequel, titled The Wolverine. Finally, we had a chance of getting a Wolverine movie the way it should be made. Right? Wrong.

Then, all of a sudden, that positive momentum hit an adamantium-laced wall when Aronofsky pulled himself out of the project. Rumors of creative differences with the studio (not again…) aside, Aronofsky is no longer a part of the project due to the time commitment away from his family.

Without a director and with the terrible situation in Japan caused by the horrifying tsunami, The Wolverine was finding itself in limbo. Enter Hugh Jackman on his shiny white horse with an appearance at CinemaCon to show off footage for Real Steel. Where Hugh Jackman goes, so do Wolverine questions.

“So now we’re out looking for a director… We were pretty much ready to go. The script is fantastic — the best we’ve ever had, which is why it attracted Darren in the first place. His personal situation precludes him from doing it now, and I feel for him. But now we need to find a director.”

Who can replace Darren, Hugh?

“We’re not going to settle. We’re going to find a director as good as Darren, if not better. Well, as good. Everyone is still pushing forward to getting it done.”

Finding a quality director willing to take on a possibly rushed big budget film in a franchise looked upon with mixed reaction for a studio that’s also looked down upon for how it handles said franchise may be a challenge. That was a mouthful.

I hope for Jackman’s sake and that of moviegoers and X-Men fans everywhere that Twentieth Century Fox is able to sign a director we can really get behind, but more importantly, that said director will have significantly more control over the final product. Jackman has really dedicated his life to this role and character, and he’s even working harder than ever at 42 years of age to build his body into a stronger and bulker mutant.

Darren’s out. Who do you think should replace him in the director’s chair?